Marta Kos, Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner, received the green light in parliament as the EU Affairs Committee voted 9:5 in favour on Wednesday in issuing its non-binding opinion.

Helena Koder is the winner of this year's Rožanc Prize for the best essay collection. She was honoured for her work Krošnja z Neznanimi Sadeži (Tree Crown Bearing Unknown Fruit), a collection of Rousseau-like ruminations. She will accept the prize at an event on Saturday.

Presenting her EU commissioner bid to the National Assembly's EU Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Slovenia's candidate Marta Kos highlighted the significance of the enlargement portfolio for both Slovenia and the EU. She is confident that her skills will be most evident in this area.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and other UN Security Council signatories of the statement of Shared Commitments for the Principles of Women, Peace and Security condemned the policy of the Taliban authorities towards women in Afghanistan and demanded the end of discrimination against them in a joint appeal on Wednesday.

Around 150 workers at two plants of car industry supplier Cimos staged a two-hour work stoppage at noon on Wednesday after the trade union and the management failed to reach a deal on a wage rise and a new wage model. The trade union is threatening stepping up the strike if no progress is made in a new round of talks.

Slovenia will send material aid to the flood-stricken Czech Republic on Wednesday through the EU civil protection mechanism to help with post-flood recovery, the Defence Ministry said. The Slovenian Red Cross is meanwhile collecting financial aid to help all countries affected by Storm Boris.